Asuka‘s reported semi-retirement following WWE Backlash 2026 has triggered a wave of tributes from across the wrestling industry. Following her loss to IYO SKY on Saturday, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that backstage talk pointed to “The Empress of Tomorrow” stepping into a semi-retired role. While WWE has not officially commented on her status, several current and former roster members have taken to social media to honor her career, with AJ Styles leading the way by saying she will one day be a WWE Hall of Famer.
WWE Roster Pays Tribute To Asuka After Backlash 2026
Styles posted, “I don’t know the facts, but I know @wwe_asuka will be a Hall of Famer.” Michin, Nattie, Bayley, and TNA’s Ash By Elegance all chimed in with their own tributes. Michin wrote, “We love Asuka around here.” Rhea Ripley praised the match itself, calling the IYO SKY vs. Asuka showdown “phenomenal” and the “best of the best,” and gave SKY a personal shout-out. Nattie spoke to both wrestlers as “true leaders in the ring,” while Bayley called them “two of the rarest wrestlers in the entire world.” Ash By Elegance — who had Asuka’s first WWE match — called her a “Legend.”
Asuka WWE Contract Details And TKO Restructure Context
According to an updated report from Fightful, Asuka signed a long-term WWE deal in the summer of 2024, with most contracts at that point being five-year agreements. The exact length of her deal is unclear. The semi-retirement framing also lines up with TKO’s ongoing effort to restructure WWE talent contracts, driven by fewer house shows, reduced travel, and a schedule where performers only wrestle a few times per month. It is not currently known if Asuka was among those asked to take a contract change, but the timing fits the broader pattern of full-time performers shifting into more limited roles.
Source: Fightful Select.
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